With the decision that they could continue to foster Finn, and with the assurance that if they eventually wanted to adopt him that there wouldn't be any resistance, a sense of relief and moving forward had replaced the previous uncertainty and somewhat disjointed days. Toys which up until then had been stacked in a corner had miraculously found their way into the toy box each evening. Meals which had been eaten on time, had allowed the kitchen to be left clean and tidy at the end of each day. All in all, calm had replaced what Ruth had described as organised chaos. Apart from one evening, when a transatlantic chat between Alice and Thomas, had seen them sharing a convoluted conversation about their respective Christmases. Loud enough at times, for Harry to have commented that perhaps it would have been better and certainly a lot cheaper if they'd let him go with them. That and because of the time difference and the constant mention of his name, it had woken Finn, who had appeared at their bedroom door and climbed up onto their bed. Whereupon Ruth being Ruth, had surrendered to his small brown eyes and had rolled back the covers. Resulting in a restless night and a late morning. Just about managing to get showered and dressed in advance of Miss. Harrington's second visit, but still eating breakfast with only a few moments to go. Ruth having been nominated as their spokesperson this time, with list of questions. Almost all of which were based around their early experiences with Thomas, but with a sprinkling of their memories of a young Wes Carter. Who for all his appearance of being able to cope, they knew from the hours that Harry had spent talking to him, that what had happened during his early childhood had stayed with him. Would the fact that Finn was a good deal younger and his memories spread out over fewer years make a difference? Thomas when he'd come to them had spent several sessions with a child psychologist. Was this something that maybe would help Finn? On a day to day basis though, they wanted advice on how they could help Finn themselves. Questions that required the boys to be out of the house and why Malcolm bless his heart, had suggested that he take them for a walk.
By the time that they bundled back in through the door, the picture that Harry and Ruth had been painted, more than explained why Finn had trust issues. Born on the mainland, in what had been described to them as a rough inner-city area, he'd lived, if lived was an appropriate word, in four different locations and on the island for only a few months. That they shouldn't expect a quick fix. That there was every likelihood that they would be faced with setbacks. Thomas when he went to his new school was a case in point. Something that would need careful handling when they explained to Finn. The emphasis being on Thomas coming home for weekends and during the holidays. But whatever they were faced with, that they should remember that they'd done this before and with a positive outcome. That talking to Finn about anything and everything was essential and that they might be surprised by what he eventually told them.
But it wasn't all doom and gloom and high on the list of positives, was that this was the first time that Finn had been placed with a family who had a child of their own. That he'd apparently enjoyed his morning on the beach and was relating well to Malcolm, who after all was a stranger, were good signs and was how she left it. Apart from a passing comment when they walked her to the door, when she'd told them completely off the record, that if all the people that she visited were as instinctive and caring as they were, that her job would be a good sight easier.
.
Finding a survivable balance between pouring every ounce of their energy into making sure that Finn wasn't looking over his shoulder all the time, whilst surrounding him with activities to keep him occupied, made for a full-on week. One that flew by. Until suddenly it was the day before Finn's birthday and Harry was again muttering about the lack of car parking spaces in Stornoway. This time with the intension of heading to a toy shop in search of a present. Finn certainly more animated than when they'd first brought him here and besides, they had Malcolm to remind them.
'This isn't the inner city of his nightmares and don't doubt your ability to read what you're seeing,' he told them, before stepping out of the way to allow Harry to push open the door to the shop and usher Ruth and Finn in. Before he and Thomas who were meeting up with them later, headed off to do some shopping of their own.
Faced by wall to wall toys, in what by today's standards was a very small shop, didn't mean that it was any easier to find the section that was marked up as suitable for Finn's age bracket. Sticking to the plan and with Malcolm's reminder ringing in their ears, they watched rather than prompted Finn as he walked almost methodically up and down the aisle. With all the appearance of a much older child who knew exactly what he was looking for, but without the frustration of not being able to find it. Bypassing train sets, farmyards full of animals and all manner of plastic lorries and diggers, which caused Harry to comment that he would have loved at the same age, there was no sign of a can I have this? Or I want that. In fact, it wasn't until Finn reached the section where there were dozens of boxes of brightly coloured Lego bricks, the same as he'd played with at the vicarage, that he actually reached out and touched anything.
The moment only to be broken, when in the adjacent aisle, an overheated and totally inappropriate argument in a toyshop kicked off. One that was hard to ignore or even conceive was physically possible, when George somebody, was apparently on the verge of being sued for every penny he had, by what they presumed to be his wife. Having caught him in the act of buying an elf suit which had something to do with a woman called Lisa and a set of Christmas lights, in particular the blue ones. A comment that despite herself made Ruth giggle and caused Harry to wonder why they would be anymore effective than the other colours? But that either way he'd didn't intend asking.
Their salvation coming in the form of Finn. Mercifully too young to know what was being said, he made himself understood, albeit it silently, by taking hold of Harry's hand and then pulling him towards the boxes of bricks. The first decision that he'd made without Thomas there to influence him. It was job done and their chance to escape from whatever else had been prevented from happening, in the bathroom of room eight at the Royal Crown.
On the other side of town, Malcolm and Thomas who had been spared the whys and wherefores of the Robert's crumbling marriage, had been enjoying themselves in the bookshop. Coming away with several colouring books and a box of paints. Which according to the label could be washed off any surface, including clothes. Plus, a couple of birthday cards and some wrapping paper. From where they headed towards the local cookware shop, where Thomas knew that his Mum had seen a set of pans that she liked. A belated thank you present from Malcolm. The next stop being somewhere to have some lunch. This time in a much less noisy establishment, which according to the menu that was pinned to the bay fronted mullioned window, served everything from beans on toast, to a roast dinner with all the trimmings. Arriving a few moments after they had, Harry with one eye on the steak and chips that an elderly couple looked to be enjoying as he edged between the tables, not easy to do when you were carrying a nearly four year old, was still trying to imagine why the blue bulb which was going to play such a large part in the recently overheard conversation, would be any more effective than the red. A conversation that he was planning on revisiting with Ruth when they got a moment to themselves, but without the suggestion that they find out.
Only to discover that his thoughts were about to be eclipsed once their orders had been placed, when Malcolm took what for him felt like the bull by the horns.
'I love this island and by extension the friends and family I have here was implied, so I've decided to look for a place of my own,' he said, pausing for a moment to let it sink in. 'I've got no idea how long it will take me and before you say anything, I need you to know that I have no intension of outstaying my welcome, so please don't try to persuade me. I've had a long chat with Ron and he's offered me a room while I look around,' he told them. Stopping just short of saying that he hoped they approved, although the look on his face held the question.
'That's fantastic,' said Ruth meaning it, as Harry put a steadying hand on Thomas's arm. Ensuring that the rest of the diners didn't stop eating and turn to see where all the excitement was coming from.
Excitement that was set to continue for what remained of the day and beyond, as they left the café and walked across the square, to where the same six stuffed robins, now looking decided bedraggled, were gallantly battling their way through various songs that still included the word Christmas. Sad really because it was over. Before he and Ruth visited the supermarket to stock up and they set off for home. To find another surprise. One that would prove to be very useful over the next couple of weeks, in the form of an unexpected visitor who was currently sitting outside their house and tapping her fingers on the steering wheel, in time to the music on Radio Scotland.
.
Catherine who had been abroad for several months, had on the spur of the moment decided to visit them. Them being her Dad, Ruth and Thomas. But having arrived to find an empty house, had driven back up to the vicarage and enjoyed a cup of tea with Rose. Rose who had told her that the family had gone to Stornoway for the day, but nothing more. Something that was going to be another turning point for Finn, who up until then, had associated any unexpected visitor, with his small case needing to be packed and a journey into the unknown. As opposed to this time, when Thomas leapt out of the car and raced across the snow- covered tarmac, yelling 'Catherine.'
Something that despite Harry's feeling of joy at seeing his daughter after so many months, was heard by Ruth to say, 'one out, one in.'
Whereas Catherine who was looking over Thomas's shoulder, had briefly registered Malcolm, before staring at her father who was holding a small boy's hand and looked as though he was about to pick him up.
'That's Finn,' said a still animated Thomas, as though it was normal practice for her father and Ruth to have acquired another child since she'd last spoken to them. But then she'd misplaced her phone during the run up to leaving London, so hadn't rung ahead. Stopping over for just one night with her mother, before she'd headed to the airport.
'Finn's my new baby brother. He'll be four tomorrow and we're going to have a party on the beach. Rose has made him a cake and Dad is going to light a fire,' Thomas continued unabated, as Catherine followed the boys and Ruth into the kitchen with the offer of helping to make some tea. Leaving Harry and Malcolm to sort out the shopping and separate the food from the presents before joining them.
At which point Malcom as he always had, weighed up the situation and did the right thing, by telling them that he'd sort out his bits and bobs and then head up to the village. Before adding that he'd be back nice and early in the morning and he hoped that they enjoyed the rest of the day. Causing Catherine to think that she was the reason that Malcolm was going, so followed him upstairs to apologise.
That done and with Malcolm having told her not to be silly, if Catherine was under the illusion that she was going to get any answers to the remainder of her questions straight away, then she was mistaken. Thomas who adored Catherine, had in his mind explained everything and with a bombardment of requests that kept Catherine occupied, until the moment when Ruth was putting Finn to bed with Thomas in tow, she was finally alone with her dad.
She could have been more tactful, she knew that, but she'd been waiting a long time so simply asked, 'Who's Finn and where did he come from?' Watching to see if her dad's expression changed.
It didn't. Harry was used to Catherine's head on approach and had been anticipating the question. He had several answers, some of which he knew would only serve to wind Catherine up even further. Ones that involved gooseberry bushes or under the Christmas Tree, or couldn't she see the likeness to Ruth in Finn's expression and the dark hair etcetera? All of which had been very tempting as he'd watched her getting more and more exasperated during Thomas's monologue. In the end he went for the potted version, but didn't hold back when it came to telling Catherine they still had a lot of work to do. That it was very important they continued to read the situation and to include Finn in anything and everything.
To say that she was surprised was an understatement. But this wasn't the Catherine that had told Danny all those years ago that her father was dead. She was a grown woman, who when the odds had been stacked against him surviving the beating that he'd received at the hands of the CIA, had kept him going with the promise that they'd find Ruth and reunite them. Added to which and despite this new addition, she was still the only daughter he had. One that loved him more than she loved anyone else on earth, so wasn't about to go barging in or say something stupid. Although it wasn't until she was relaxing in the bed so recently vacated by Malcolm, that she began to weigh up the implications of them taking on another child. Unlike Thomas, who had been a pupil at the school when they taken him on, Finn had in truth, been foisted on them. Despite this and by the way that her dad had spoken about him, she knew that when Thomas went to his new school and despite Ruth being at home all the time, without Finn there would be a huge gap in both their lives. One that would now be filled with lots of love and laughter and would only serve to strengthen, their already rock-solid relationship. That bizarrely she wanted to be part of that process and that if they'd let her, she'd do her best to make it happen. That tomorrow would be the ideal starting point. All that was needed was for her to ask the question.
.
When they arrived at the clifftop parking area, Malcolm was already there. Cheerful as ever, he'd spent a very comfortable night and he and Ron were going to start looking for properties the following day, Harry heard him telling Ruth as he and Catherine unloaded the car. An extra pair of hands, to carry what Harry had described as enough food to feed an army, which of course included the cake that Rose had made. Whether anyone else had eaten birthday cake at lunchtime not mattering, providing that the candles were there to be blown out.
But it wasn't until they were on their own, once Malcolm and Thomas had gone in search of wood for the fire and Catherine, with a seemingly trusting Finn holding her hand was walking towards the waters edge, determined to get to know this little addition as soon as possible, that Harry made a move.
'How long is it since I told you how much I love you?' He asked Ruth.
'I honestly can't remember,' she told him, knowing full well that he did it constantly, but that they'd been so tired by the time that they'd gone to bed, that there was more to his question. In fact, this was the first time since the dance, that they'd had a moment to themselves.
'Well I need to do better then, don't I?' He replied, looking directly at her, with that almost smile that she loved so much. The one where his eyes did the rest. A combination that always floored her. Before they both took a deep breath and turned their attention back to where Finn who was facing Catherine was copying her, by clapping his hands when a wave broke around their boots. Familiarity perhaps at being taken to somewhere that he'd been before? Somewhere where he'd enjoyed himself and hopefully now realised that he was loved.
'I'm glad Catherine's here.' Ruth told him. Again meaning more than she was saying.